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New On DVD This Week: Dynasty, Victorious, 13 Assassins, Das Boot

The addictive, primetime soap opera that quickly became a 1980’s hit and lives on in popular cult status returns to DVD with ‘Dynasty: The Fifth Season, Volume One & Volume Two.’ Each volume, includes four discs of all the over-the-top glamour and drama from the series fifth season. Explore the conflicts, passions, drives, and tensions of the Carringtons, a rich and powerful oil family, as they struggle to maintain their status of wealth and influence. Starring Joan Collins, Linda Evans, John Forsythe and Jack Coleman, the debut of Catherine Oxenberg as spoiled daughter Amanda Carrington. Dynasty: The Fifth Season, Volume Two includes the final 14 episodes – featuring the shocking cliffhanger of the royal wedding massacre! – plus a very special 1985 “Entertainment Tonight” interview with the cast, a must-have for ‘Dynasty’ fans. Buy the Season 5 two-pack right here.

Victorious

Tori Vega and the students at Hollywood Arts High School are ready to showcase their talents in their first DVD: ‘Victorious‘ Season 1, Volume 1. The brand-new two-disc set includes the first ten episodes of the series, with an extended version of the pilot, special features and guest appearances by Jerry Trainer and celebrity blogger Jared Eng (JustJared.com). ‘Victorious’ follows teenager Tori Vega (Victoria Justice) who attends the prestigious performing arts school, Hollywood High. From her first day at the school however, Tori feels out of place among the amazingly talented students, especially mean diva Jade. Buy the Season 1, Volume 1 DVD right here.

13 Assassins

When a tyrannous lord wreaks havoc across Japan, it is up to a brave and powerful group of warriors to take him out in ‘13 Assassins,’ now available on Blu-ray and DVD. Directed with brilliance and beauty by iconic cult director Takashi Miike (Sukiyaki Western Django, Ichi the Killer), the samurai quickly gather their small army of 13 in order to do battle with hundreds of soldiers sent to protect the evil lord. What follows are some of the most epic battle sequences and incredible fight scenes in the history of cinema, as the 13 Assassins set a trap for their enemy and go for the kill in their makeshift “Village of Death!” ’13 Assassins’ stars acclaimed Japanese actor Koji Yakusho (Babel, Memoirs of a Geisha) and was produced by Oscarâ** winner Toshiaki Nakazawa (Departures) and Jeremy Thomas (Brother, The Last Emperor). The special features will go behind-the-scenes of the gruesome battles in a making-of featurette and will also include the film’s international trailer. Buy the Blu-ray right here.

Das Boot

The harrowing 1981 epic World War II film ‘Das Boot‘ is now available for the first time on Blu-ray. Newly remastered for high definition, the director’s cut of this prized film adds 60 nail-biting minutes to the original version, which was nominated in 1982 for six Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing and Best Sound. Also included in the two-disc set is the original theatrical version of the film and almost three hours of all-new Blu-ray exclusive special features, including a retrospective documentary with Director Wolfgang Petersen. The film follows the lives of a fearless U-Boat captain Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (Jurgen Prochnow, The Da Vinci Code, Air Force One) and his inexperienced crew as they become engulfed in the “Battle of the Atlantic” during World War II. The crew confronts the constant and paralyzing fear of the unknown enemy above in the claustrophobic iron belly of a German U-boat. Variety likens the experience to “a descent into the pit of hell.” Director Wolfgang Petersen’s close and focused shots meticulously capture the gritty reality of pursuing rival ships from undersea in a blind environment, humid with sweat and rank with the bitter scent of metal. Buy the Blu-ray right here.

Wake Wood

‘Wake Wood‘ marks a bold return to the gripping stories and atmospheric visual style that made Hammer productions the gold standard of horror via classics like The Curse of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Vampire Lovers. The eerie instant classic is now available on both high-definition Blu-ray and DVD. ‘Wake Wood’ tells the story of Patrick and Louise Daley (Aiden Gillen and Eva Birthistle), whose 9-year-old daughter, Alice (Ella Connolly), is killed in a horrific dog attack. To escape their grief, the devastated young parents move to the remote rural Irish community of Wake Wood (the movie was shot on location in County Donegal, Ireland). Sensing Patrick and Louise’s loss, the strange people of Wake Wood introduce the couple to a bizarre pagan ritual that will bring Alice back from the grave – for three days only. The Daleys find the idea disturbing and exciting in equal measure, but once they agree to terms with Arthur, the village’s mysterious leader, a far bigger question looms: What will they do when it’s time for Alice to leave them forever? Buy the Blu-ray right here.

Transformers Headmasters: The Japanese Collection

‘The Transformers – Headmasters’ is the first part of the rare Japanese trilogy that followed the popular “Generation 1” animated series. Available for the first time in North America, this collectible 4-DVD set features the complete action-packed episodes from the Headmasters series and contains the original Japanese language tracks along with updated English subtitles, a rare art gallery and more! Poised to attract an audience of pop culture enthusiasts, kids and parents who grew up with the American animated series will definitely want to purchase this set. Buy the DVD right here.

America: The Story of Us

It could be said that America was invented, not discovered. ‘America: The Story of Us’ looks at history from an entirely new viewpoint with untold stories about the men and women – both famous figures and everyday people – who pushed innovation and ingenuity to the very edge of possibility to create a modern world that was unthinkable at its founding. From the taming of the west, to the building of our great cities, to the conflict that united an divided a nation, ‘America: The Story of Us’ immerses viewers in each moment as it happens. From Jamestown to Plymouth, early settlers fight for survival in ‘Rebels.’ Tobacco sows the seeds of opportunity; the north becomes a powerhouse of trade in ‘Millennium.’ Tension, taxation and resistance explode into war as the rebels take on the might of the British Empire. Washington’s army is near defeat, but new weapons and battle tactics turn the tide. Forged through revolution, a new nation is born. America becomes a global superpower; the economy and population boom. In the jet age and the space age, pioneers conquer new frontiers and run headlong into Cold War. The Challenger disaster and 9/11 are tragedies that try the nation’s spirit. From the television to the credit card and the personal computer, technology drives America into the 21st century. Buy the Rebels and Millennium DVD.

Mannix

‘Mannix‘, the popular, long-running detective drama about a tough and cynical private investigator, returns to DVD in a collectible six disc-set including all 24 action-packed fifth season episodes. Golden Globe winner Mike Connors stars as the title character, a hard-boiled and gritty detective who constantly defies rules and regulations and is able to take all the fist fights, high-speed car chases and bullet wounds that come his way in stride. Buy the Season 5 DVD right here.

Of Gods and Men

Men of faith find their pacifist beliefs put to the test in the drama ‘Of Gods and Men,’ from filmmaker Xavier Beauvois and inspired by a true story. Christian (Lambert Wilson) is the leader of an order of Trappist monks living in the hills outside Algiers. The community outside the monastery is almost exclusively Muslim, and the monks have worked to foster understanding between themselves and their neighbors; they observe Muslim traditions, are well versed in the Koran, and provide medical and charitable assistance to the townspeople. The monastery is an oasis of calm and peace as Algeria is caught up in a civil war, with forces led by Muslim extremists leading a bloody campaign against the nation’s rulers. Christian and his monks do not wish to take sides in a conflict they believe is immoral; they refuse the protection of the military while also denying aid and comfort to the insurgents. The monks’ efforts to remain outside the war, however, have ugly consequences when they’re taken hostage by a band of Islamic revolutionaries. Buy the Blu-ray right here.

Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures 2

One flustered feline + one resourceful rodent = 14 wild and wacky cartoons in ‘Tom & Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures 2.’ Tom – the eternally crabby cat – and Jerry – the hopelessly adorable mouse – find themselves in a fracas once, twice and many times again in this latest bunch of 14 fast and funny cartoons! This time around the dizzy duo takes their tiffs to the beach (Surf-Bored Cat), to the Alps (The A-Tom-inable-Snowman) and to the orchestra (Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl). In Top with Pops Spike the dog pounces into the fray and Jerry learns a mouse’s best friend is a dog! Even vampire hunter Van Helsing gets in the middle of the cat/mouse combat in Monster Con. Your hunt stops here: this new collection of animated antics will delightfully drop you into the middle of non-stop family fun. Buy the DVD right here.

Ferocious Planet

Starring Joe Flanigan (‘Stargate: Atlantis’), John Rhys-Davies (Lord Of The Rings franchise), and Catherine Walker (Leap Year), the gruesome, sci-fi horror movie ‘Ferocious Planet‘ begins when a groundbreaking device is created by the government to glimpse into alternate universes. Yet when the machine malfunctions on its first presentation, it inadvertently transports a group of observers into a nightmarish new dimension populated with fearsome, man-eating creatures after their blood. The team is forced to outwit, outrun and outlast the native monsters as they desperately attempt to repair the damaged machine, their only way to make it back home. Buy the DVD right here.

The Making of the President: The 1960s

The landmark documentaries in ‘The Making of the President: The 1960s’ are the winner of four Emmy awards, including best documentary and television program of the year, and broadcast in the 1960s on ABC, CBS and A&E; the three documentaries collected here forever changed the landscape of political journalism by offering a full and in-depth look at the tumultuous presidential campaign of 1960, 1964 and 1968. The programs are based on the best-selling books by Theodore H. White. His book on the 1960 campaign won the Pulitzer Prize. Produced by the Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated David L. Wolper, these narratives offer a unique snapshot of an era steeped in political protest and progress. Buy the DVD right here.

Hobo With a Shotgun

A train pulls into the station –it’s the end of the line. A Hobo jumps from a freight car, hoping for a fresh start in a new city in ‘Hobo With a Shotgun.’ Instead, he finds himself trapped in an urban hell. This is a world where criminals rule the streets and Drake, the city’s crime boss, reigns supreme alongside his sadistic murderous sons, Slick & Ivan. Amidst the chaos, the Hobo comes across a pawnshop window displaying a second hand lawn mower. He dreams of making the city a beautiful place and starting a new life for himself. But as the brutality continues to rage around him, he notices a shotgun hanging above the lawn mower. Quickly, he realizes the only way to make a difference in this town is with that gun in his hand and two shells in its chamber. Buy the DVD right here.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.